History of The Foundation

Coming together to plant ‘Ōhi‘a Lehua as part of the Ulu Lehulehu Initiative, (retired) Senator Akaka, Kupu interns, and Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests Board of Directors at the Hawai‘i Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF) in the Ahupua‘a of Laupāhoehoe.

United States Senator (retired)

Daniel K. Akaka

Chairman Emeritus Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests

The Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests was founded in honor of former United States Senator Daniel K. Akaka, and in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the protection and promotion of Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources. To these ends, the Foundation supports place-based efforts that seek to protect and restore native tropical forests, including reducing or eliminating threats that degrade Hawaii’s bio-cultural heritage. Because the Hawai‘i Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF) was established as a result of the Senator’s landmark legislation, the 1992 Tropical Forest Recovery Act, The Laupāhoehoe and Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a units of the HETF will serve as the initial geographic focus for the Foundation.